I bought Two (sight unseen) goats today. I know, I know not smart, but I bought them from my vets assistant and I was assured they were in good health. I figured she of all people would be sure to take good care of their animals. I don't think she even knows they have anything wrong with them. She has cattle and horses and I don't think she knows all that much about goats. they ran with the horses and cattle. They are covered with lice. That isn't all that uncommon this time of year but the worm medicine my vet gives me for my goats kills lice also. My other goats don't have lice at all.The big problem is their feet. You never saw such a mess! They are so overgrown I don't know if I will ever get them back in shape. I got one of them clipped fairly well at least for now but I think the other one is going to take an army to hold him.Their feet have rot also. Does anyone have any sugestions on the best and quickest way to help these guys? I am just glad I have them now. They are neubian wethers. I don't know if I spelled that right but you will know what kind I mean.They are in a stall by their self right now and I don't want them with my other animals until I get rid of those critters on them. I will appriciate any suggestions.

-- corky wolf (corkywolf@hotmail.com), April 09, 2002

Answers

I am sure someone more knowledgeable will post on this; I know that with badly overgrown feet you just have to trim as much as you feel is safe at first, then trim every couple of weeks until you have the feet the way they should be. We use Hoof 'n' Heel, just pour it on where ever you see rot (after removing as much rot as possible). As far as restraining that one, can someone stand with their knee pressed into his flank and hold up the leg opposite and alternate to the one you are trying to work on? i.e. You working on right front, someone else holding up left rear, and somewhat supporting the goat with the knee.

-- Dianne Wood (woodgoat@pacifier.com), April 10, 2002.

If you have a belt sander it works wonderful for the big overgrown feet of males. Having someone holding the sander you press the hoof flat onto it, helps if you take alot of the overgrowth off first with your trimmers or a knife. As you press the hoof down it causterizes bleeders at the same time, so you are able to take quite a bit of the hoof down. Watch the angle of the hoof by looking at the coronary band, where the meat of the leg meets the hard part of the hoof, it makes a nice line, you can even scribe yourself a line from this line. I would also update their tetanus shots, with or without the C&D part if you are going to grain them. Be very careful about introducing any grain or good hay to them, do it slowly. Make sure you have ammonium chloride to offer (1 teaspoon per day per buck) with the grain or have it in the grainmix, BEFORE you start grain. pipevet.com carries it cheaply. Your wormer for your goats must be Ivermectin, you should be using it if it is the 1% cattle injectable at 2cc per 100 pounds and give it ORALLY for worms and 1cc per 110 pounds injected for lice. As bad as they sound, you may want to lice control them outside their pens! Remember whatever you choose to do with the lice, even Seven 5% will work, redo the whole process in 21 days as the eggs that aren't killed will just rehatch. Reworm them also in 21 days. Hooftrimming every 2 weeks, may need to go on for awhile. Hoofrot is best treated with tetracyclines, good hoof trimming and dipping the whole foot into a coffee can of iodine, or Kepertox, or or or as many remedies for it as for lice. I would just shave them completely and get all the nasties out of their hair and burn it! Loose minerals, good grass hay, clean water, and eventually a place to browse is all they need. Good luck with your Nubian wethers, sounds like they were very lucky to find you! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (Nubians) (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 10, 2002.

Could you use bleach as you do in horses for the hoof rot? I know it works for thrush...

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), April 10, 2002.

Thanks for all your help. The worst part is off the hooves. They have been wormed and deloused with ivermectin. They havent been clipped yet as I don't own clippers. I have bought clippers for a dog before and they were not good ones so I could use some advice on what kind and where to find good but not expensive ones.These boys are very very loving. My other goats are very independent. It has taken me 5 years just to pet them unless I have them cornered.

-- corky wolf (corkywolf@hotmail.com), April 11, 2002.